Coppa Italia 2013: Highlighting Overachievers in Italian Tournament

The fourth round of the Coppa Italia hits the pitch to entertain soccer fans this week.

Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Udinese, AS Roma, Lazio and Catania, the top eight from last year's tournament, get free passage into the next round, but 16 teams will battle for the right to face them.

With just one match to decide which teams advance, there is room for surprise victories and big performances from unexpected spots.

Here are three players I see outperforming their expectations.

Ricardo Alvarez, Internazionale

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Ricardo Alvarez is having a strong year for Inter Milan. The midfielder has four goals and four assists in Serie A play.

His performance has helped Inter lose only one match this year in Serie A play and sit in fourth place in the table. In this one, Alvarez and Milan will be able to dispatch of Trapani if they play up to their potential. It was just this season that Trapani was promoted to Serie A.

Alvarez has proved to be a good fit in Walter Mazzarri’s 3-5-2 system. In attack, he is typically just behind lone striker Rodrigo Palacio. Alvarez's patience and vision have helped Inter to a high-scoring year.

I expect Alvarez to make strong decisions, accurate passes and possibly add a goal in this contest.

Luca Marrone, Sassuolo

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In Serie A play, Sassuolo sit just three points behind their opponent, Atalanta. This figures to be a close contest.

Despite the deficit, however, it was Sassuolo that triumphed 2-0 when these two met less than two weeks ago. Luca Marrone was a big reason why Sassuolo won that day, and he will be again in this one.

Like most of Sassuolo's goals this season, the scoring against Atalanta came from Domenico Berardi and Simone Zaza. It was Marrone, however, who assisted on both, and in six Serie A games, the 23-year-old midfielder has three assists.

Marrone is an exciting playmaker. Atalanta couldn't stop his playmaking skills on Nov. 24, and they won't in this one.

Luca Toni, Hellas Verona

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Luca Toni will enter this match right after what had to be an emotional affair against his former club Florentina. His side dropped the match 3-4, and Toni missed a few opportunities in the match:

The 36-year-old Toni is no longer capable of bringing his best every match, but he is still a very competent player. He has five goals on 37 shots this season.

Toni has helped Verona to a solid campaign, as they sit in sixth in the table. In this match, they will take on fellow Seria A side Sampdoria.

That is the same Sampdoria that Verona beat 2-0 on October 30. Toni picked up a goal in that one, and I expect him to add a goal in this one.